I was recently injured while making popcorn. True story. A stray kernel decided to pop within the fluffy confines of the bowl instead of in the popper — hardly unusual. But this one sent a piece of hot bran straight into my right eyelid. If I had that eye wide open at the time, it could have done serious damage. As it was, I only had nagging pain for a couple of days — a small price to pay for a good story, I say.

Thank you for being here today. You had options. There are churches all over, offering all sorts of incentives and enticements. For instance, the Castle Church Brewing Community in Orlando bills itself as “Orlando’s newest destination brewery.” If you are asking yourself, “Is that what it sounds like?”, the answer is yes. They actually brew, sell and drink beer. Not in the actual assembly, mind you — at least, not as far as I can tell. But immediately afterward, and pretty much any other opportunity that affords itself.

It is no wonder that a society that tells its citizens constantly that they are no better than the animals — indeed, no different from them — winds up seeing those same citizens act like animals. Why wouldn’t they? How could we reasonably expect anything else?

As Christians, we hope and expect humans to rise above the animal world. Animals can be trained, after all. Why not humans? But culture wins over holiness, time after time. And thus we see headline after headline, proclaiming in grotesque detail how degraded a culture bereft of God can become.

I got my eyes dilated during a recent trip to the eye doctor. On my way out they asked if I wanted some eye shades. I politely declined. And then I opened the door. Wow. It felt like someone had hit me in the face with a hammer. I went back for the shades.

Hal's books:

Remember Me With Favor

We all want to be remembered "for good." This study of Nehemiah from both textual and topical perspectives will help you preserve a legacy of faith that will be a source of encouragement for generations to come.

Construction in Progress: Building a Better Christian One Project at a Time

Accepting Jesus is only the first step of a spiritual journey. Construction in Progress helps you monitor your growth as a Christian through every stage of development.

The Mystery is Great: Husbands, Wives, and the Bride of Christ

The Bible consistently describes our relationship with God with the marriage relationship, and vice versa. in This Mystery is Great, the two topics are discussed side by side.

The Story of the Bible

How did the Bible come to be? Why these books and not others? What is the difference between translations? These and many other questions are dealt with in The Story of the Bible.

To Your Name: A Study of the Psalms, Volume 2

The second volume of To Your Name is now available. Suitable for large or small Bible classes or personal development, To Your Name helps the Bible student look at the Psalms from a variety of perspectives to maximize the usefulness and understanding of the text. Volume 1 is also available.

With One Heart, With One Voice

With One Heart, With One Voice is a study intended to help us "teach and admonish one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs" (Colossians 3:16). By understanding hymns, learning about hymn writers, and reviewing some basic musical concepts, you will learn how better to worship God and instruct others in song.